Cervelo TestTeam's Heinrich Haussler is facing a long break from competition and will be sidelined until he recovers fully from the knee problem that has tormented him since a crash in the Volta ao Algarve earlier this season. After initial treatment and recovery, Haussler crashed again in Paris-Nice, unfortunately suffering another contusion of the same knee.

"Heinrich has a contusion of the left knee, with injury of the quadriceps tendon," Dr. Andreas Goesele, the team's Chief Medical Officer commented. "We are performing intensive treatments every day, involving both physiotherapy and osteopathy. At the moment, we do not know when he will return to racing, but the most important thing is that he heals completely. In elite sport you have to be completely fit to perform well."

"I am glad that we know what the problem is and that it can be fixed. The classics time is the most important part of my season, and I am very disappointed, but I will come back when I am fully recovered - and I will come back stronger. This is just making me more focused," Haussler said in a statement.

Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam) in the 2009 Tour of Flanders - but unfortunately not in the 2010 Tour of Flanders. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.

It must be very hard for Haussler to accept being sidelined in the Tour of Flanders, which is the race he wants to win more than any other race on the pro race calendar.

"We will miss Heinrich, but we still have a very strong classics team, and we will maintain our focus on these races," Sports Director Jean-Paul van Poppel stated and added "In our goal races our riders have to be 100% fit."

Check out our recent interview with Heinrich Haussler.